How to Ace the Challenge of an Open Home Studio

You know what? You’re not the only artist whose studio doesn’t look like it belongs on a Pinterest board.

​But to host a successful open home studio you don’t need to live in a New York loft! 

Why do a home open studio?

​There’s a reason why collective open studio events have become so popular. (Just google “open studio” or “art walk” to see what I mean.) 

It’s because the story behind the creation of art helps to stimulate people to buy it - and nowhere represents your story better than your studio.

But while these kind of events might be fine when you have your own - or shared - city studio space, for those of us who’s studio is also our home, opening it up for this kind of event brings a whole extra level of challenge.

To say nothing of worrying that our space just isn’t special enough to entice in visitors.

But don’t worry about your workspace not being magazine-worthy. You and your art are in it, and that’s all that matters.

Studio in a shed

I went to the Devon Open Studios recently and visited an artist in his very small garden shed studio. I was with three other people and once we were all in - plus the artist - there wasn’t a lot of wiggle room. 

But the bijoux space didn’t stop the artist in question, showing us his work, pointing out the view and generally giving us a very good sales spiel.

After all, who doesn’t love the excuse of poking round someone else’s space? (I’m convinced that’s part of the success of Airbnb.) And if that someone is an artist, and that space is a studio, it’s even more intriguing!

Opportunity to own your on gallery!

So instead of feeling daunted by the idea of opening up your space, take a moment to flip this paradigm on its head: Holding an open studio in your home means that you have total control over the event! 

You have your own gallery in which you decide:

• when to open
• what to show
• who to invite
• which frills to add
• how you want the invitations to look.

You don't even have gallery commissions to pay. Or you can pay them to yourself ;)

​And you don’t need to limit your sales space to your studio. You can make use of any available wall-space in your home.

Looking at like this, hosting an open studio at home is really too good an opportunity to miss!

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FREE eBook: 10 Steps to a Successful Open Home Studio

If you’re appetite for hosting your own open home studio event is whetted, now’s your chance. I’m offering my 10 Steps to a Successful Open Home Studio eBook completely free! 

It’s packed with essential and practical tips to maximise the benefits - and avoid the pitfalls - of this unique opportunity to show and sell your art.
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